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THE NEXT MORNING AS I was helping Gwadei with the fruit delivery, he stopped me just shy of reaching the kitchens. He had a strange look in his eye, and it had me a little uneasy. I hoped he was okay.
“Emalia, I have to talk to you,” he said in a hushed tone. “What is it? What’s wrong, Gwadei?”
“I’m leaving here tonight. I want to get away from this place. I can’t stand the sneers and names anymore. I want to travel and see what the world has to offer. I can be so much more than just a halfling. Here, I’m only fit to work in the kitchens. Out there, I can be anything.” His eyes lit up at the possibilities he saw.
“What? You wish to leave? Where will you go? I don’t understand.” I just couldn’t fathom why someone would want to leave here. Our village was peaceful, and nearly everyone got along.
“I don’t get treated like you do. You wouldn’t understand. But I don’t want to leave you. You are the best thing that has happened to me since I was born.” He sounded so earnest that I felt for him. He was right; I supposed I wouldn’t understand his point of view.
“Then don’t leave. You’re my best friend, Gwadei. This place will be a little dimmer if you go.”
“That’s why I want you to go with me. Come with me, Emalia,” he urged.
“What?” I asked, quite shocked that he would suggest such a thing.
“Come with me. Imagine all the good you could do on be- half of the goddess out there.”
“I-I don’t know, Gwadei. This is our home.” Tears started to form in my eyes as I thought of him leaving. I couldn’t possibly go with him.
“Don’t answer me now. Tell me tonight at The Falls. I am leaving tonight, Emalia, and I hope you go with me.” He squeezed my hands, but quickly let them go. “I have to go. I’ll see you tonight.”
Without waiting another minute, he picked up the basket I had been carrying and took it inside. Completely shocked by everything he just said, I didn’t know what to do other than go back to my room. I had to think on this. I wasn’t going to be any use to anyone today with thoughts of my best friend leaving playing over in my mind.
I had stayed in my room the entire day, foregoing meals to seek guidance from the goddess. She had yet to answer me, but I held out hope as I walked to meet Gwadei at The Falls.
He was pacing back and forth along the bank. Clearly, he was impatient. It made me wonder just how long he had been waiting for me. I couldn’t be more than five minutes late. A pack lay on the large boulder we usually sat on. A twig snapped under my foot, which alerted him to my presence.
“You’re here! I was wondering if you were coming,” he said as he rushed over to me.
“Gwadei, I-” I started but stopped as emotion choked me. “What is it, Emalia? Wait, where is your pack?” At first,
he looked concerned, but that quickly faded to sadness. “You aren’t going with me, are you?” It wasn’t really a question; he al- ready knew the answer.
“No, I’m not. I can’t. I prayed about it all day, and considered it even on my way here. But I just can’t picture leaving our home. I don’t want to. There are too many uncertainties out there; it’s too dangerous for someone like me.”
“Someone like you, huh? I see. I knew it was too good to be true. Even you. I thought you were different. But you’re not. You think of me as an outsider, too. Just because my human blood prevents me from having wings doesn’t mean I’m any less than the rest of you. You were probably only my friend because you felt sorry for the halfling, weren’t you?”
“No! It wasn’t like that! I don’t see you as any less. Please, y-” I tried to explain and calm him, but he was too worked up to hear anything.
“You’re just like all of them!” He threw his arm out in the direction of the village. There was something dangerous in his eyes. I had never seen him like this.
“I’m not. I swear. Please, Gwadei, I do care. I-” I was cut off again.
“No, you don’t! If you did, you’d be going with me. But I’ll show you. I’ll show all of you! I’m going to make something of myself and come back and show you all! I’ll never be some- one’s kitchen boy again. You can count on that.” He grabbed my neck and kissed me roughly, crushing my lips into my teeth. I pushed at his chest, and he finally let go and I could breathe once again. Without thinking, I raised my hand and slapped him across the cheek as hard as I could.
“I am a priestess. How dare you!” I seethed. I swore off any chance at a mate when I took my vows to serve the goddess.
“You’re right.” He glared, then grabbed his pack. “See you around, Priestess,” he said over his shoulder and stormed off without another glance backward.
I was too stunned at everything that had transpired to move, let alone try to go after him. I didn’t understand what had gotten into him. I hardly recognized my friend tonight. Hopefully, the goddess could help him with his inner turmoil. I needed to get back to the temple and pray that the goddess forgives me for breaking my vow. All I wanted was to be a priestess and serve, but I couldn’t do that if I was no longer pure. If he took that from me, I would never speak to him again. Well, if he ever came back.
I ran all the way back to the temple and up the stairs, not stopping until I was safely in my rooms. Throwing my robe on- to a nearby chair, I headed straight to the pitcher of water I kept on a table and poured an ample amount into the basin. I scrubbed my mouth over and over to rid the taste of him on my lips. I stopped when I noticed a drop of blood fall into the water.
Changing into my night clothes and finishing my nightly routine, I crawled into bed. I couldn’t wait to have this day over with. A temple maid quietly entered and built up the fire before grabbing my robe for cleaning. I didn’t open my eyes or say a word as she quietly closed the door on her way out.